A/N: Sorry it took so long to update but besides being sick as a dog things have been ridiculously hectic at school. I've never had so many test and projects to do in my life.
When Kane lit the coffin his brother the Undertaker was still in, many thought that he had ignited a war of which the world had never seen. Abeebah disagreed; this sort of war was well documented throughout history, it was a war between siblings. And that kind of war rarely ever ended well for either party. No one believed for a second that the dead man had been laid to rest. He would rise from the ashes like he always seemed to do and be back for his vengeance. Abeebah herself had fought constantly with the elder of her two younger brothers for well into three years. They had put each other through hell and were better off for it. It was only way Brandon could get through to her and express what he dare not give voice.
Watching the replay of the 'incident' for maybe the thousandth time Abeebah knew for certain that it was the case for Kane. He needed to fight his brother. Mark being the stubborn mule that he was couldn't and or wouldn't understand this. And instead took the unexpected betrayal to heart despite the eldest Johns effort to make him understand. Even now after Kane and Undertaker's first 'fight' at Wrestlemania XIV it simply wasn't enough. Ceaseless minutes of beating each other senseless weren't enough. And much to Abeebah's horror once again the rat bastard of Kane's father added fuel to the fire. Or rather he came up with a match that would ensure the Phenom's absolute destruction.
On April 26 at Unforgiven the WWF was going to host the first ever inferno match, where the only way to win was to set your opponent on fire. The eldest horsemen remembered the terror she felt when Paul threw down the challenge. Remembered somehow once again breaking whatever spell Kane was under and screaming at him through the link. Abeebah was ignored. Undertaker's answer was predictable but no less disappointing. The big man didn't back down an inch. So the two brothers from the dark side were once again Pay-Per-View bound. And Abeebah found herself entertaining an emotion that she hadn't indulged in years, hatred.
Not of her bond mates' stubbornness, not even of Paul Bearer, Abeebah's hate solely lay on a one Vincent Kennedy McMahon's head. The manipulative bastard was letting this all happen. Not out of spite or even some vendetta against the dead man, he was helping to rip an already torn family to pieces for ratings. This was new low to which all of the horsemen had to check their' varied tempers. Abeebah, Delia, and Evan made no further move to interfere as did Brandon whom was sorely tempted if only for Abeebah's sake.
The Calloway's needed to work this out on their' own and getting involved would hurt more than it would help. They even 'persuaded' many of the opportunists of the locker room to do the same. The weeks leading up to the inferno match were hell on everyone. The locker room was in terror as the Phenom's temper boiled over, Kane reeked havoc on any and ever one, even the new WWF champion Stone Cold Steve Austin wasn't exempt.
Vince hated the bionic red neck with a passion and wanted nothing more than to take the title from the man that refused to be his puppet. For it the rattle snake not only won the hearts of the fans he also earned Abeebah's quiet respect. Evan quit doing side jobs for commissioner Slaughter as it was becoming too dangerous to do so and Delia had made short work of Sunny and Ivory, much to the two older women chagrin. They feuded against one another only for Viluppo to finally snap and challenge them both in the first ever woman's hell in a cell match.
They accepted, though the match had yet to be scheduled. Brandon too was moving up on the competitor latter. The Philadelphia native now known as Guerra had went toe to toe with Steve Blackman and Ken Shamrock. Brandon lost to the former and won the latter, gaining respect and sparring partners in both of the wrestlers. And despite all the drama, changes, and hype he was going through, Kane still had no desire to end Undertaker's life. That wish solely lay in the black heart of the treacherous Paul Bearer.
And the surety of the dead man's emanate and permanent demise only made him even smugger. It sickened the darkest horseman to no end. Sighing Abeebah turned off the T.V and stretched out on the bed smelling the fresh scent of hotel room sheets. Unforgiven was just a few days away and the pandemonium had reached an all time high. Shawn Michaels was no longer a part of the WWF as an injury to his leg required that the show stopper either never wrestle again or have a surgery done. Triple H restarted DX with he being the leader and incorporating three more members. First the new age outlaws Badass Billy Gunn and Road dogg Jesse James and then their youngest friend and newest addition to the federation X-pac.
It was a miracle that Abeebah was even able to dodge the constant chaos around her. Constant travel and rivalries at work made it hard to relax and often enough deadman would show up out of the blue. He wouldn't say a word, just stared as if she were some kind of precious stone that he was inspecting. When he first starting doing it Abeebah tried to talk to him yet she gave up when it became apparent he was never going to respond.
She didn't even look up when she heard her hotel room door open. It was the same every time, somehow he would swindle Brandon's key from him and would come in unannounced. The darkest horseman didn't even bat a lash when she felt the bed dip under Mark's considerable weight. Closing her eyes Abeebah prepared herself for hours of silence and was stunned when her usually taciturn companion spoke. "If it came down between me and Kane who would you side with"?
Immediately she noticed how the auburn haired man didn't say 'my brother' or 'Glen'. Carefully Abeebah considered her words without opening her eyes. She didn't want to see soul searching green orbs focused on her, "don't try to drag me into this Mark". The bed shifted as he moved closer grasping her chin and squeezing lightly in a subtle warning. Dark lids lifted and hazel eyes glared coldly with reproach. "Tell me", the base rumble of Undertaker's voice vibrated through her petite frame.
Their' gazes met and clashed almost completely identical dead stares. And this time it was Abeebah whom backed down, lowering her lids at half mast and relaxing docile under the Phenom's commanding presence. She couldn't help it as this was how she reacted to anything that threatened her. Smile and be reasonable right up until she took a knife and stabbed someone with it whether it was metaphorical or literal. The sudden bitter chill barely registered across their' link, "I'd pick whatever benefited me".
The deadman looked frustrated, "you're lying princess", the grip on her on her chin tightened marginally. Smiling softly Abeebah stared right back, "I'm not going to answer you". All the possible ways to get the woman to answer flashed in rapid succession across Undertaker's mind. Each idea was analyzed and discarded accordingly. Abeebah watched his immobile features curiously but made no move to give voice to what she knew what was going on in his head.
It would be rude to interrupt after all. Finally after many moments of silence Undertaker spoke, "this is no time for games Morte". The darkest horseman frowned ominously, "I'm not playing". "You've been entirely too focused on what other's opinions of yours and Glen's issues when you should be more focused on the fact that whatever passed between you two needs to be worked out". He let out a mirthless chuckle, "this coming from the woman who said I needed to fight em". Deadman let go of her chin and leaned back so that he was resting against the pillows at the head of the bed. Per usual Abeebah smiled right back, no sympathy for him whatsoever.
"Do I have to beat it into your thick ass head with a sledge hammer", she asked acrobatically, "fighting is a very big part of that process". She held up her hand stalling his retort, "But whatever is between you two should be just that, between you two". Again he laughed without real humor. "Paul ain't go'n ta let that happen an ya know it, the fat fuck got Vince's ear and all that bastard's got on his mind is dollar signs". Weariness practically oozed of him as he closed his eyes. Abeebah didn't know what to say to him, she could barely deal with her own emotions let alone what was duel filtering through her senses via the brothers.
Even her glacial heart had its shattering point and Abeebah was quickly finding it hard to remain at an emotional distance. The world around her seemed to be falling apart and the eldest Johns knew that she wouldn't be able to pick up the pieces without someone bearing the weight with her. And Mark was in no better shape than she; simply at a lost at the hand life dealt him and tired of being beat down by life. The eldest horseman squeezed her eyes shut, drew her legs up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around herself. It did little to comfort her.
They remained like this for a long while, both lost in their' own thoughts and schemes. And though neither would admit it they found comfort in each other's quiet company. 'Now if only Glen were here and not still in a homicidal mindset', Abeebah thought wryly, 'we're all so pathetic it isn't even funny'. Suddenly she couldn't breathe. Abeebah eyes opened wide as she looked at her stone still companion. Undertaker's chilling gaze met hers with a new found and down right frightening determination.
Somehow his eyes seemed to darken, paying homage to just how pale the phenom was. His shadow seemed to lengthen as he rose to his feet and placed Brandon's key on the nightstand left without a word. Abeebah could feel the new and discerning set of emotions coming off of him by bucket full's. They were disturbingly similar to Kane's mindset toward his brother. Undertaker was feeling murderous to say the least and she didn't know why.
The Philadelphia native didn't know what to make of the sudden change but it didn't bode well for anyone as far she was concerned. Abeebah couldn't have been more right. The demon of Death Valley had in those silent moments of just contemplating had come to three conclusions concerning his predicament. The first, being that he the Phenom, the dead man, man of the dark side, prince of darkness, the immortal, the Undertaker was weak. Where was the stoic unmovable mountain of a man that had taken the WWF by storm? 'Buried under the sickening weaknesses', he sneered to himself, 'buried deep under the love for a brother that wants my eternal damnation'. It left a bitter after taste in his mouth.
The second conclusion Undertaker came to was that by showing weakness not only had Paul and Kane gained power over him but so did many of the WWF superstars. He wasn't as focused, he wasn't as effective. And in a way he had become more human. Humans were weak, they were flawed and above all else all of them ultimately perished. And despite his every effort to quell his human heart, Undertaker was more than aware that he would never kill his brother. A cruel smirk stretched his thin lips, 'but they don't know that'.
And this led to his third and final realization. He would have to reclaim his inhumanity and once again strike fear into the hearts of everyone. Abeebah's smiling visage cane to mind, 'especially her', he told himself. He ignored the voice in the back of his head telling him that what he was about to do was not right. That he could no more expect Kane to see the manipulative bastard Bearer really was when he himself had fallen into the fat man's traps more than he cared to acknowledge.
Undertaker easily lumbered his way to his own room, half formed ideas being thought out and discarded as he went. By the time he returned to his room Undertaker had already had a plan to deal with both Bearer and Kane. It would take some doing even by his standards but to regain the power he lost by letting his guilt control him would be well worth it. Picking up the telephone he preceded to call the number that the elemental priest had left with him. "Your majesty", deadman didn't wonder at how the person answering the phone new it was at least one of the trinity.
"Have construction started for a ranch in Death Valley, and I want personal information on one Vincent Kennedy McMahon". Not waiting for a reply Undertaker hung up; if the elementals were efficient enough to get the large sum of land they were efficient enough to build property on it. Vengeance would be his one way or another. Undertaker thought nothing of his use of the respect that the elementals to get what he wanted, he had to find Vader.
In a dojo in the inner city Brandon and Blackman were going at it in a spar. Blackman, with his beloved Nunchaku and Brandon with a quarter staff, circled each other lazily. The second born horseman had bruises peppering his arms from where the older man was able to hit him. Brandon smiled they didn't even sting. Steve was smiling back at him, though it was more of a grimace. The side of his face was quickly turning blue from the solid hit the younger man had gotten just moments earlier. "That was just mean man", he told Brandon jokingly. Green eyes flickered with humor, "that", he tilted his staff so that it was pointed down, "was a love tap". So Swiftly Blackman couldn't follow Brandon jabbed the end of his staff on the martial artist toe.
"SON OF A BITCH", Brandon laughter was quickly cut off by another hit to the wrist. The Nunchaku hit the exact same area as he did before and caused Brandon to hiss as it finally stung. He retaliated with another strike to Blackman's temple which missed by millimeters. Blackman hit him again, the Nunchaku catching Brandon in the shoulder. Gritting his teeth the second eldest horseman smashed his elbow into the bridge of his sparing partner's nose. Out of reflex Blackman's head snapped back and he didn't even notice the quarter staff sweeping the back of his knees until he was on the floor, his Nunchaku slipped from his grasp, and a staff at his throat.
The brown eyed lethal weapon scowled at his young opponent good-naturedly, "you like to play rough". Brandon shrugged and moved back so that Steve could get up which he did. "That's nothing", the horseman informed him, "this is pussy footing compared to the fights me and Morte had back home". By some unspoken rule the four Johns had taken to calling each other by their' ring names around others and calling each other by their' given name in private.
None of them really knew why they did it but it had become almost second nature to think of themselves as the four horsemen rather than the Johns, at least in public. Blackman picked up his fallen weapon and fell into a relaxed fighting stance ready to go again. "What's up with your sister anyway man"? Lazily twirling his quarter staff Brandon looked at the martial artist thoughtfully, "what do you mean"? "I don't mean to sound sexist or anything but why she hasn't hooked up with anybody, it's not like she hasn't gotten plenty of offers". It was common for woman of the world wrestling federation to take casual lovers and or boyfriends for protection or to elevate their status in the company.
The wrestlers did it for similar reasons. Blackman knew for a fact that more than one main event superstar wouldn't mind taking the beautiful yet mysterious leader of the horsemen to their bed. Even Jacqueline and her own sister Viluppo the two toughest divas on the roster had taken the occasional lover. But Morte was seemingly uninterested in company politics and had not at least too many of the gossiping locker room's knowledge taken anyone to bed. This, despite Blackman's reserved nature made him curious and bold enough to ask Morte's younger brother. Brandon wasn't mad, much to Blackman's surprise. The light-skinned boy merely looked thoughtful. "Got shot down eh"?
Thankfully the martial artist tan hid most of his blush, "yes", he mumbled in a rare show of embarrassment. Paying the blush no mind Brandon struck out with unexpected quickness. Blackman blocked the strike automatically. "You should have asked Viluppo", Brandon continued to speak without missing a beat; "Morte doesn't do causal relationships". Blackman was tempted to ask why but the younger horseman beat him to the punch. "Relationships of any type are complicated and much to Viluppo's chagrin Morte likes things simple". Twisting the chain of his Nunchaku around Brandon's staff Blackman pulled. Grunting Brandon kept his grip on his weapon. Thinking about the younger man's words Blackman had to agree with him.
Relationships like the one he sought to have with Morte were often times more trouble than what they were worth. Backhanding the taller man Steve moved in to take Brandon's legs in from under in by grabbing the back of his knees. Instead of falling as the martial artist expected younger man kneed him in the face. Once again the brown eyed man found himself on his back Brandon standing over him with his staff at his throat. The older fighter stared up at him incredulously, "you weren't this tough in the ring", he said.
Green/gold eyes didn't even narrow at the unintentional insult, Blackman was just stating fact. Brandon shrugged his bulky shoulders, "no rules outside the ring". Smirking Brandon helped Blackman to his feet once more, "besides Morte is a whole of a hell lot meaner than you are". The older wrestler gave his peer a light shove in retaliation, "of course she is", he paused, and "she's a woman". Brandon snorted but didn't disagree on either point.
Back the hotel the WWF was renting out Evan stood by the pool his sister was currently doing laps in, timing her. Delia despised lifting weights so this was the perfect exercise for her. Swimming worked all the muscles in the body without putting too much stress on the body over long periods of time. It was also a great way to build up her endurance seeing as her naturally small frame was not built for poundings that more than one diva on the roster gave her.
"How's she doing", Evan all but leaped in the air as Abeebah's voice came up from behind him. Gasping he turned to glare at his eldest sibling, "don't do that". A ghost of her old Mona Lisa smile stretched across Abeebah's full lips. It was a pale comparison to the full blow mocking the she usually displayed but at least it was more than the cold shell she had been before. "What have I told you about being aware of your surroundings"? The youngest horseman grumbled under his breath at his sister's subtle rebuking tease. Once again he regarded Abeebah critically, taking in her lack luster skin and now ridiculously long hair. She was beautiful even now; her unusually intense eyes dim with exhaustion, the skin of her face taunt with loss of weight.
The Calloway brothers' feuding was taking a heavy toll on his sister but Abeebah refused to give an inch. She continued to fight and win all of her matches and despite the multiple victories over the woman's champion did not challenge her. Even after Vince called her to his office once to convince her to do so, it didn't work as Abeebah had no intention of gaining more power than she thought she could handle.
"Power is a tool", she had reasoned with her siblings more than once, "Only someone truly stupid and desperate would want power for power's own sake". Evan held back a nostalgic smile; their ever wise and pragmatic sister didn't even realize how amazing she really was. "Done yet"? Evan snapped out of his thoughts abruptly aware that he had been staring. "Sorry it's been a long week", he lowered his eyes. He could feel Abeebah's amber gaze boring holes into the top of his head. "You're worried", it was a statement not a question.
"We all are", Evan looked directly into Abeebah's eyes, then quickly glanced toward Delia who was getting out the pool. The caramel-skinned beauty was regarding them curiously but made no move to join them. Evan was thankful for such conversations with Abeebah were difficult enough with just her. "I'm not going to lie and say that you shouldn't worry". He turned his attention back to his sister noting the passive mannerisms that she was readopting. He hated it. "Don't Beebs, just don't", Evan rubbed his face in the palm of his hand, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't earn him a place on Abeebah's shit list. "Look I know there isn't any way in hell you're going to let us get involved anymore than we already have, but please-".
Evan cast his begging gaze to his immobile sister, "please be careful". Not looking the least bit surprised Abeebah nodded. Much later on that day Vince called Abeebah and Brandon was called into a meeting by their irritated employer. Apparently the business tycoon wanted to discuss their' public relations and possible future matches. Both of them could smell a rat but neither of them was going to challenge the already stretched thin McMahon. His hatred for Austin as of late had translated into the abuse of power toward his other employees and they were in no hurry to become victims of his temper tantrums.
The siblings arrived at Vince's 'office' promptly and well prepared for confrontation. They were invited in with a smile and an offer of coffee from Vince's assistant. Smiling Abeebah excepted while Brandon politely refused. The assistant left and the two horsemen sat in the chairs in front of McMahon's desk. The dark eyed businessman regarded them with a practiced smile from behind his desk. However both of the Johns could see the strain that it took to keep up the pleasant façade. But they knew better than to call him on it and silently waited for Vince to start the conversation. The owner of the world wrestling federation regarded his two employees with a friendly yet aloof air trying to gage their' moods.
However both the siblings were harder to read than most. Though she was smiling, Abeebah always had a chilling distance about her and now was no difference. Vince briefly recalled the conversation he had some time ago with the young woman about refusing to challenge the woman's champion Jacqueline for a title shot. He had tried to sway the young woman into doing so. Abeebah had gained popularity in such a short amount of time and normally the attention this woman was garnering would take years to cultivate. Yet the 'first lady of the horsemen' as the fans come to call her did it in months with nary a glance and a cold smile. It was only seemed natural that she would get a title shot. However Abeebah disagreed.
Coldly courteous the darkest horseman explained that she had no wish to currently be woman's champion. He had asked why and shuttered thinking about how similar her icy disposition was to the Undertaker's. The small amused smile that she wore while telling him that she wasn't ready for the limelight only made Abeebah seem more eerie as if the hard quality of her amber eyes weren't enough to set McMahon at unease. He was just thankful that her younger siblings weren't so obstinate.
Brandon sat next to her sister not smiling but no less menacing with a simmering temper flashing across his green gold eyes. However the older man wasn't unnerved by the younger horseman seeing as he was easier to read than his elder sibling. Holding back the urge to clear his throat Vince regarded them with a practiced dignified look, "We have a problem, there was supposed to be an inter-promotional tag team match at Unforgiven". "You'll be taking the place of team Rock 'n' Roll Express against the New Midnight Express", he laced his fingers together waiting for the immediate refusal that he expected from Abeebah. The older horseman just stared at him.
"That's all", asked a now slightly irked Brandon. They could have just been called by the scheduling committee like before. His sister too was annoyed but for a very different reason. She could see manipulation written all over this. "No that's not all, it's for the NWA tag team championship", scowled the businessman. Abeebah shot her brother a look, stilling the retort she could see welling within his throat. She turned her glare to their' employer still confused as to why they called them here if he was just going to tell them that they were going to be competing. There had to be something more to it than a championship. "What's the catch"? Again their' employer looked too smug for either of their' peace of minds.
And then Vince dropped the bomb on them, "if you lose than you will have to face each other in a hardcore match". If looks could kill McMahon would have been a pile of dust on the floor. "And exactly what are you getting out of this, seeing as you are the one advocating this match", Abeebah leaned back in her seat sure that the unholy light shining in her eyes would scare McMahon into answering. And she was right when without thinking he did so, "You won't compete for the woman's gold so why not the tag titles"?
'Thus giving the fans what they want to see', Abeebah thought with a dark look. "And the hardcore match if we lose", asked Brandon just as pissed as his older sister but not hiding it as well. "Will occur at the next video taping", Vince interrupted almost immediately. If anything this only served to piss them off more. What right had this manipulative jackass to force them into this situation? Brandon was growling, the rumbling sound all but vibrating through his frame. Abeebah was no longer smiling, "then you better pray we win, because the moment this little idea entered that conniving head of yours, that ass belonged to me are we clear". Too afraid to contradict Vince nodded, "crystal".